School safety task force eyes murky funding

Published: Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 22, 2013 at 6:56 p.m.

Almost a year after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., rocked the nation, a diverse group of North Carolina residents will assemble in Raleigh to continue the discussion about how to ensure the safety of the state's public school students.

"In the broadest sense, we're looking for preventative measures, measures of intervention and finally crisis response. We'll be looking in all three of those areas as they pertain to school safety," said Jim MacCallum, Brunswick County's Clerk of Superior Court who was tapped by Gov. Pat McCrory to serve as vice chairman of the newly created Task Force on Safer Schools.

Is it more than lip service to a growing national problem? MacCallum says it is.

"It feels like we can make a real difference," he said.

The task force, which is scheduled to meet for the first time Dec. 4 in Raleigh, is made up of 20 individuals with backgrounds that include law enforcement, education, health care and technology.

Even in tight budgetary times, MacCallum said he thinks the task force can make a dent in school safety concerns. Many solutions, he said, are cost-neutral or low-cost options. He cited as examples signage, procedures for key controls, routine inspections of windows and facility blueprints, keeping unoccupied rooms locked, and maintaining lighting.

"We may not have had this conversation 20 years ago but we live in a different age," MacCallum said. "Obviously, it's very important."

Still, Ben Matthews, director of Safe and Healthy School Support at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, said he expects some of the recommendations to have a price tag.

"In my opinion there would be a requirement for some funding," he said.

It's unclear how eager the General Assembly will be to spend. State House Education Committee Chairwoman Linda Johnson, R-Cabarrus, said she hopes the majority of recommendations are changes schools can make for free.

"A lot of times you're just looking at the situation and changing the procedures you have for safety," she said. "I think looking at that will really help the school systems."

House Democratic Leader Larry Hall of Durham County said he's doubtful that Republicans in leadership will dedicate new resources to the initiative.

"It seems they'll take it from another critical source within education and/or make an unfunded mandate on local school systems and I think that's going to be problematic," he said.

Investing in school safety

But lawmakers have signaled some support for funding school safety initiatives.

When the N.C. General Assembly approved the state budget in late July, it included $9 million in funding for two types of school safety grants: one for school resource officers, with the state providing $2 for every local $1, and one for panic alarm systems, where the state will match local funding dollar for dollar.

The legislature also directed schools to update crisis plans, share keys and blueprints with local law enforcement, and to update critical response kits, which contain keys, rosters of students and other materials for first responders.

Rodney Ellis, president of the N.C. Association of Educators, said all the attention being paid to school safety is great, though he added that the real proof will be in the financial commitment of lawmakers and the governor.

"I think you can make a big difference given the way schools have become sites for all types of violence. I think it's important we do give some attention to our safety measures we have in place, to evaluate them and determine whether they're effective. I think it's warranted," he said. "The question is, though, do we have the resources to invest in it and if so what does that investment entail."

William Lassiter, who oversees the Center for Safer Schools within the N.C. Department of Public Safety, said his staff is committed to looking at alternative funding resources such as federal grants from the departments of Homeland Safety and Education for these initiatives that lessen the burden on the state's general revenue fund.

As an example, he said the governor's crime commission recently secured a federal grant that will allow the center to contract to build a smart phone application allowing high school students to anonymously report bullying.

<p>Almost a year after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., rocked the nation, a diverse group of North Carolina residents will assemble in Raleigh to continue the discussion about how to ensure the safety of the state's public school students.</p><p>"In the broadest sense, we're looking for preventative measures, measures of intervention and finally crisis response. We'll be looking in all three of those areas as they pertain to school safety," said Jim MacCallum, Brunswick County's Clerk of Superior Court who was tapped by Gov. Pat McCrory to serve as vice chairman of the newly created Task Force on Safer Schools. </p><p>Is it more than lip service to a growing national problem? MacCallum says it is. </p><p>"It feels like we can make a real difference," he said.</p><p>The task force, which is scheduled to meet for the first time Dec. 4 in Raleigh, is made up of 20 individuals with backgrounds that include law enforcement, education, health care and technology. </p><p>Even in tight budgetary times, MacCallum said he thinks the task force can make a dent in school safety concerns. Many solutions, he said, are cost-neutral or low-cost options. He cited as examples signage, procedures for key controls, routine inspections of windows and facility blueprints, keeping unoccupied rooms locked, and maintaining lighting. </p><p>"We may not have had this conversation 20 years ago but we live in a different age," MacCallum said. "Obviously, it's very important."</p><p>Still, Ben Matthews, director of Safe and Healthy School Support at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, said he expects some of the recommendations to have a price tag. </p><p>"In my opinion there would be a requirement for some funding," he said. </p><p>It's unclear how eager the General Assembly will be to spend. State House Education Committee Chairwoman Linda Johnson, R-Cabarrus, said she hopes the majority of recommendations are changes schools can make for free.</p><p>"A lot of times you're just looking at the situation and changing the procedures you have for safety," she said. "I think looking at that will really help the school systems."</p><p>House Democratic Leader Larry Hall of Durham County said he's doubtful that Republicans in leadership will dedicate new resources to the initiative.</p><p>"It seems they'll take it from another critical source within education and/or make an unfunded mandate on local school systems and I think that's going to be problematic," he said.</p><h3>Investing in school safety</h3>
<p>But lawmakers have signaled some support for funding school safety initiatives. </p><p>When the N.C. General Assembly approved the state budget in late July, it included $9 million in funding for two types of school safety grants: one for school resource officers, with the state providing $2 for every local $1, and one for panic alarm systems, where the state will match local funding dollar for dollar.</p><p>The legislature also directed schools to update crisis plans, share keys and blueprints with local law enforcement, and to update critical response kits, which contain keys, rosters of students and other materials for first responders.</p><p>Rodney Ellis, president of the N.C. Association of Educators, said all the attention being paid to school safety is great, though he added that the real proof will be in the financial commitment of lawmakers and the governor.</p><p>"I think you can make a big difference given the way schools have become sites for all types of violence. I think it's important we do give some attention to our safety measures we have in place, to evaluate them and determine whether they're effective. I think it's warranted," he said. "The question is, though, do we have the resources to invest in it and if so what does that investment entail."</p><p>William Lassiter, who oversees the Center for Safer Schools within the N.C. Department of Public Safety, said his staff is committed to looking at alternative funding resources such as federal grants from the departments of Homeland Safety and Education for these initiatives that lessen the burden on the state's general revenue fund. </p><p>As an example, he said the governor's crime commission recently secured a federal grant that will allow the center to contract to build a smart phone application allowing high school students to anonymously report bullying. </p><p><i></p><p>Metro desk: 343-2384</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNewsMolly</i></p>